Filling carrier for shuttleless looms



" Jan. 17, 196? M.R.VFLAMAND I 3,298,400

FILLING CARRIER FOR SHUTTLELESS LOOMS Filed 001;. 29, 1964 mm M? WM 0. km

- 3.'298,400 .1 FILLING (CARRIER FORSHUTTLELESS LOOMS. MauriceR. Flamand, Lonsdale, R.I., assignor to Draper Corporation, Hopedale, Mass., a corporation of Maine,

Filed Oct. 29, 1964, Ser. No. 407,297 2 Claims. (Cl. 139--122) This invention relates to improvements in a filling carrierfor use in shuttleless looms, and particularly, -to that carrier employed to extend a loop offilling yarn through the warp shed after receiving said filling from a cooperating companion carrier. 3 1

It isa general object of the invention toimprove the general construction and operational .characteristics of the fillingfextending carrier herein-described.

- A furt-her object of the invention is to provide an extending carrier the component parts of which are so disposed as to provide a full range of filling yarn pick-up by said carrier. I

A further and more specific object of the invention is .to provide a carrier capableof functioning in a manner complete and positive transfer or filling yarn pick-up than has heretofore been possible. it

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe following more detailed disclosure. a

In shuttleless looms which utilize filling yarn that is furnished from an outside source and is not carried to and fro through the shed by the shuttle or carrier itself, it is common practice to insert each pick of filling by two reciprocating elements. That element which introduces the filling into the warpshed is known as the inserting carrier and that which receives or has transferred to it the introduced filling tobe drawn through the remainderof the shed is known as the filling, receiving or extending carrier. The latter type of carrier is normally provided with a hooked portion and a cooperating thread tensioning means which receive and trap the filling from the companion carrier at a point approximately midway within the warp shed. The introduced filling yarn isxin the form of a loop and the withdrawing of the extending carrier causes said filling to. move endwise through the hooked portion and cooperating tensioning means, thereby ex tending an end of filling which will have been. severed to a predetermined length sufficient to complete a given pick.

Examples of filling extending carriers which utilize a hooked member and a cooperating thread tensioning means are disclosed in United States Patents 2,586,638, 2,705.503, and 3,034,539. I

Filling extending carriers utilized in shuttleless looms prior to the introduction of the carrier comprising the instant invention have functioned satisfactorily under proper weaving conditions whichinclude accurate timing and setting of the carrier members as well asfull and complete shedding of the warp yarns.

A very serious disadvantage of theknown types of I I 3,298,400 Patented Jan. 17, 1967 creating a smash or the tearing out of a plurality of warp threads. i

Th'e trapping and tensioning members of these extending carriers are so disposed that the leading tip port ons thereof extend slightly beyond the leading front portions of their respective carriers forming notches which assist in guiding the loop of filling from the inserting carrier, intoits properposition within said extending carriers.

In the event of a collision, these co-called notches .are

instrur nent-alin permitting a side wall of an inserting carrier to beforced between the'trapping and tensioning member andhooked portion of an extending carrier. Such collisions are not uncommon with high sley cotton warp sheds and result in damaged carries, such as, the breaking off or bendingof the trapping and tensioning 'rnetnber. The bending of a trapping and tensioning member is oftentimes .more detrimental than its complete breakage, for as this carrier reverses its direction of travel it will very likely cut out a great number of warpthreads.

The filling extending carrier according to the instant invention utilizes a trapping andtensioning member, and

-is so disposed with respect to the leading end of said carrier" as to avoid damage thereto in the event of an unintentional interference with the inserting carrier. The leading end of thiscarrier'which includes the thread engaging hook has an arcuated leading edge which extends forwardly beyondthe limits of the tip portion of the combined trapping and tensioning member. Should a collision of the cooperatingcarriers occurythecurved leading edge of the extending carrier will cam or deflect the latter carrier aside making it impossible for the inserting carrier to break or damage the trapping and tensioning member in the manner described above. Additionally, the leading end of the carrier is provided with a vertical forward surface against which the leading end of the trapping and tensioning member is in spring contact. This leading vertical surface cooperates with a downwardly and-rearwardly directed planar surface which serves as a positive means for guiding the filling at times of transfer into the confines of the extending carrier.

The invention will be described in detail by reference to specific embodiments thereof one of which is illustrated in the accompanying figures of drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a view in side elevation of. the filling extending carrier according to the instant invention;

FIG. 2 isa plan view of the carrier shown in FIG. 1;

' FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken at line 33 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken at line 4-4 in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is an end view of the carrier shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Referring now to the figues of drawing, the actual means of functioning of this type of loom andthe method employed for actuating the filling carriers for delivery, transfer and the extending of the filling yarn are well known to those skilled in the art; therefore, it is considered satisfactory at this point to call attention to a number of patents which are illustrative of the type of loom to which the carrier of the instant invention is applicable.

Reference is hereby made to the information disclosed in patents numbered 1,515,102; 1,883,354; 2,191,376; and 2,604,123.

Flexible carriers or tapes 10 (one only shown in FIGS. 1 and 2) are utilized to reciprocate the thread carrying members themselves which are caused to enter the sheds formed by warp threads and to be withdrawn therefrom. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 there is attached by some suitable means to the tape 10, a filling gripping or extending carrier member generally indicated by numeral 11.

This carrier 11 includes a vertical side plate 12 which forms the rearward side of said carrier as seen looking from the front of the loom and which extends substantially along the entire extent thereof. The lower leading end of the side plate 12, which is that on the right as shown in FIG. 1, tapers angularly upward as at 13 and terminates in the form of a point 14. FIG. 2 shows point 14 to be disposed forwardly of the vertical planar surface of side plate 12 and is interconnected therewith by an angularly disposed planar surface 14. This planar surface 14' provides reed clearance for the carrier which enables a more rapid timing of said carrier during the picking cycle. In other words, the angle at which surface 14' is disposed enables the carrier to be timed to enter the shed early and to be withdrawn later during each picking cycle.

Adjacent that end of the side plate 12 opposite its leading end there is provided an integrally formed and forwardly extending web 15 having a forward vertical surface 16 that is disposed at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the carrier 11.

The trailing end of the carrier which is that on the left in FIG. 1 is depicted by numeral 17 and tapers downwardly so as to blend with the tape 10 to which it is fixedly attached. The forward end of the tape 10 is also tapered as shown in FIG. 2 so as to conform dimensionally with the trailing end 17 of the carrier.

' The vertical plate 12 is supplemented at its leading end by a substantially fiat and laterally extending hooked member having an upper surface 18 (FIG. 2) whereby the combination of these two surfaces form somewhat of an L-shaped section as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

The upper surface 18 is provided with a forward vertically disposed surface 19 and is also at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the carrier so as to be in alignment with the forward vertical surface 16 of web 15. A lower surface 20 extends rearwardly from the loweredge of the in its assembled position to form part of the extending carrier. One end of this member assembles to the forward vertical surface 16 of the web 15 by means of a plate 24 having two adjacently disposed tapped holes. Plate 24 overlies the trapping and tensioning member and the combination is secured to surface 16 by means of screws 25 and 26 the shank and head portions of which assemble in aligned countersunk apertures within theweb 15 and. the vertical side plate 12 (FIG. 2).

The trapping and tensioning member 23 has its leading end 27 in spring contact with the forward vertically disposed surface 19 and as shown in FIG. 2 said leading end is so disposed as to terminate rearwardly of the forwardly extending arcuated filling engaging tip. In other words, the forwardmost point 28 (FIGS. 2 and 5) of the filling engaging tip extends forwardly beyond the limits of the trapping and tensioning members leading end 27.

To assure positive transfer of the filling from the in- .serting carrier to the extending carrier, the so-called hooked member provided at the leading end of the vertical plate 12 includes a forwardly disposed inclined planar surface 29 that extends between the forward vertical :surface 19 and the carriers thread engaging tip. This inclined planar surface is disposed at an oblique angle to the longitudinal axis of the carrier and being downwardly and rearwardly directed it provides a threading surface which the filling thread is caused to follow when being transferred from the inserting carrier.

In operation, the carrier enters the shed without interference with the warp threads since its leading or entering end is arcuated to form a thread engaging tip as shown .in FIG. 2 whereby such interf ring threads will be cammed aside. It meets the inserting carrier and the manner in which the filling is presented by that carrier causes said filling to fold across the tip of the extending carrier and continued inward movement of the latter carrier causes the filling to slide forwardly along the arcuated tip with that portion of the filling below said tip moving along the planar surface 29. Further movement of this carrier causes the filling to slide betweenthe trapping and tensioning member 23 and the vertical surface 19 where it is received by the filling engaging hook 21 for extending the same through the remainder of the warp shed. Additionally, the positioning of the trapping and tensioning members leading tip portion rearwardly of the forward limits of the arcuated threadengaging tip eliminates the possibility of damage to this member should a collision or unintentionalinterference occur between th two cooperating carriers.

While one embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, it is to be understood that the inventive concept may be carried out ina number of ways. This invention is, therefore, not to be limited to the precise details described, but is intended to embrace all variations and modifications thereof falling within the spirit of the. invention and the scope of the claims.

I claim: r

1. For a loom having reciprocable carriers by which filling from an outside source of supply is inserted within sheds formed by warp threads, a filling receiving carrier for receiving a loop of filling from a companion carrier adapted to insert that loop part way through a warp shed and for extending an end from said filling loop across the remainder of the shed, said filling receiving carrier comprising a hooked member and a combined trapping and tensioning member, said hooked member having a vertical forward surface, a lower horizontal surface extending rearwardly therefrom, a filling engaging hook formed as part of said vertical and lower surfaces, said trapping and tensioning member having an end in spring contact with said vertical forward surface, said hooked member including a curved leading edge 'with a cooperating means for positively guiding said fill-' ing between said vertical forward surface and said trapping and tensioning member, said curved leading edge extending in a direction perpendicular to said forward surface beyond the limits of said trapping and tensioning member.

2. A filling extending carrier for shuttleless looms, said carrier including a rearward side, a hooked member forming the leading end of said carrier, said hooked member including a vertical forward surface, a lower surface extending rearwardly therefrom and a filling engaging hook formed as part of said vertical and lower surfaces, a trapping and tensioning member having an end in spring contact with said vertical forward surface, said leading end terminating in an arcuated tip and having a lower downwardly and rearwardly disposed planar surface cooperating with said tip and vertical forward surface whereby filling yarn will be positively guided between said trapping and tensioning member and said vertical forward surface, the leading end of the carrier being disposed forward of said carriers rearward side and said arcuated tip extending forwardly therefrom beyond the limits of said trapping and tensioning member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,016,927 1/1962 Nichols 139-122 3,034,539 5/1962 Brown et al. 139-l22 3,081,797 3/1963 Flamand 139-122 3,119,416 1/1964 Flamand 139-423 ROBERT R. MACKEY, Acting Primary Examiner.

MERVIN STEIN, Examiner.

I. KEE CHI, Assistant Examiner. 

1. FOR A LOOM HAVING RECIPROCABLE CARRIES BY WHICH FILLING FROM AN OUTSIDE SOURCE OF SUPPLY IS INSERTED WITHIN SHEDS FORMED BY WARP THREADS, A FILLING RECEIVING CARRIER FOR RECEIVING A LOOP OF FILLING FROM A COMPANION CARRIER ADAPTED TO INSERT THAT LOOP PART WAY THROUGH A WARP SHED AND FOR EXTENDING AN END FROM SAID FILLING LOOP ACROSS THE REMAINDER OF THE SHED, SAID FILLING RECEIVING CARRIER COMPRISING A HOOKED MEMBER AND A COMBINED TRAPPING AND TENSIONING MEMBER, SAID HOOKED MEMBER HAVING A VERTICAL FORWARD SURFACE, A LOWER HORIZONTAL SURFACE EXTENDING REARWARDLY THEREFROM, A FILLING ENGAGING HOOK FORMED AS PART OF SAID VERTICAL AND LOWER SURFACES, SAID TRAPPING AND TENSIONING MEMBER HAVING AN END IN SPRING CONTACT WITH SAID VERTICAL FORWARD SURFACE, SAID HOOKED MEMBER INCLUDING A CURVED LEADING EDGE WITH A COOPERATING MEANS FOR POSITIVELY GUIDING SAID FILLING BETWEEN SAID VERTICAL FORWARD SURFACE AND SAID TRAPPING AND TENSIONING MEMBER, SAID CURVED LEADING EDGE EXTENDING IN A DIRECTION PERPENDICULAR TO SAID FORWARD SURFACE BEYOND THE LIMITS OF SAID TRAPPING AND TENSIONING MEMBER. 